Project North Star
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| Project North Star | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | AR Glasses |
| Platform | SteamVR, Unity |
| Creator | David Holz, Florian Maurer |
| Developer | Leap Motion (now UltraLeap) |
| Manufacturer | Open Source (Community Built) |
| Announcement Date | April 9, 2018 |
| Release Date | June 6, 2018 (Open Sourced) |
| Price | <$100 (at scale), ~$350-600 (DIY) |
| Website | https://github.com/leapmotion/ProjectNorthStar |
| Versions | Release 2 (2018), Release 3 (2019), Deck X, Northstar Next |
| Requires | PC, Leap Motion Controller |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows, Linux |
| Storage | |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | 3.5" LCD (BOE VS035ZSM-NW0-69P0) |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Resolution | 1600 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | >100° combined |
| Horizontal FoV | ~75° per eye |
| Vertical FoV | ~105° per eye |
| Binocular Overlap | 60% |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Ellipsoidal reflectors (bird bath style) |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Adjustable Diopter | No |
| Passthrough | Optional (with camera) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Leap Motion hand tracking |
| Tracking Frequency | 150 Hz |
| Base Stations | No |
| Eye Tracking | Optional (experimental) |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Optional (with IMU/T261/T265) |
| Positional Tracking | Optional (with T261/T265) |
| Update Rate | 150 Hz (hand tracking) |
| Tracking Volume | 180° × 180° (hand tracking) |
| Play Space | Seated/Standing |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Optional |
| Microphone | Optional |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Optional |
| Camera | Optional (T261/T265) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, DisplayPort/Mini-DP |
| Ports | USB-C (Northstar Next) |
| Wired Video | DisplayPort |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | Via USB/External |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Variable (3D printed) |
| Weight | ~400-600g |
| Material | 3D printed plastic, aluminum |
| Headstrap | Various (Miller, 3M Speedglas) |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Variable |
| Sensors | Leap Motion Controller |
| Input | Hand tracking |
| Cable Length | Variable |
Project North Star is an open source augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display originally designed by Leap Motion (now UltraLeap) and first announced in April 2018[1]. The project was open-sourced on June 6, 2018[2], providing the community with hardware designs, software, and documentation to build their own AR headsets. The headset is notable for its wide field of view, high resolution, and integration with Leap Motion's hand tracking technology.
Overview
Project North Star represents Leap Motion's vision for making high-quality AR experiences accessible to developers and researchers. The headset features dual 1600×1440 displays running at 120 frames per second, providing a combined field of view exceeding 100 degrees[1]. This was significantly wider than contemporary AR headsets like Microsoft HoloLens (approximately 40° FOV) and Magic Leap One (approximately 55° FOV).
The design philosophy emphasized openness and accessibility, with most components being either 3D printable or available off-the-shelf. Leap Motion estimated that the headset could be produced for under $100 at scale[1], though individual DIY builds typically cost between $350-600 due to smaller component quantities[3].
History
Development
The Project North Star development began as an internal project at Leap Motion to explore the boundaries of AR interface design. The team, led by David Holz and Florian Maurer, initially created a prototype with even more ambitious specifications: a 105° × 105° combined field of view with 1440×2560 resolution per eye using 5.5" smartphone displays[4]. This early prototype was bulky but served as a baseline for what could be achieved.
The team then worked to balance performance with form factor, eventually settling on 3.5" fast-switching LCD displays from BOE Technology with custom display driver boards. The final design used ellipsoidal reflectors in a "bird bath" optical configuration, similar to the Meta 2 headset[1].
Release Timeline
- Release 1: Internal release (not publicly available)
- Release 2 (June 2018): First public open-source release[2]
- Mechanical Update 1 (June 28, 2018): Added support for standard Leap Motion Controller and alternate headgear[5]
- Release 3 (January 23, 2019): Major mechanical redesign for improved comfort and adjustability[6]
- Community Variants: Deck X, Northstar Next, and various custom builds
Technical Specifications
Display System
The headset uses two BOE VS035ZSM-NW0-69P0 3.5" LCD panels, each providing:
- Resolution: 1600 × 1440 pixels per eye
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz (90 Hz in some configurations)
- Combined resolution: 2880 × 1600 pixels
- Display technology: Fast-switching LCD
Optics
Project North Star employs ellipsoidal reflectors (also called combiners) in a bird bath optical design:
- Field of view: >100° combined (approximately 75° horizontal × 105° vertical per eye)
- Binocular overlap: 60%
- Focal distance options: 25cm (standard) or 75cm (arm's length)[6]
- Reflector coating: Half-silvered mirror with anti-reflective coating
Tracking System
- Hand tracking: Leap Motion Controller
* Tracking frequency: 150 Hz * Tracking volume: 180° × 180° * Tracking range: Up to 60cm from controller
- Head tracking (optional):
* Intel RealSense T261/T265 for 6DOF tracking * IMU-based 3DOF tracking * External tracking systems (SteamVR, OptiTrack)
Connectivity
- Video input: DisplayPort or Mini-DisplayPort (supporting 2880×1600@90Hz)
- USB: USB 3.0 for Leap Motion Controller and optional sensors
- Power: External power adapter for display driver board
- Northstar Next variant: Single USB-C cable with DisplayPort Alt Mode
Hardware Components
Core Components
| Component | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Displays | 2× BOE 3.5" 1600×1440 LCD panels | BOE Technology |
| Reflectors | Ellipsoidal combiners with AR coating | Custom manufactured |
| Display Driver | Custom board supporting dual MIPI displays | Various manufacturers |
| Hand Tracking | Leap Motion Controller | UltraLeap |
| 6DOF Tracking | Intel RealSense T261/T265 (optional) | Intel |
| Mechanical Parts | 3D printed brackets and housings | User printed |
| Headgear | Miller or 3M Speedglas welding headgear | Commercial |
3D Printed Parts
Most mechanical components can be 3D printed on consumer-grade printers:
- Minimum print volume: 130mm × 130mm × 130mm
- Recommended print volume: 220mm × 200mm × 120mm (for larger parts)
- Material: PLA or PETG recommended
- Special technique: Some parts designed to be printed flat and bent while warm[6]
Software
Unity Integration
Project North Star includes a Unity package containing:
- Pre-warping systems for optical distortion correction
- Leap Motion Unity Modules (Release 4.4.0+)
- Scene templates and example projects
- Calibration tools and utilities[7]
Project Esky
A community-developed Unity framework providing:
- Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK) integration
- 2D and 3D optical calibration support
- 6DOF head tracking with Intel RealSense
- Peer-to-peer networking for multi-user experiences[8]
SteamVR Support
The headset can run SteamVR applications with hand tracking support, though controller-based games require modifications[9].
Calibration
Due to variations in 3D printing and assembly, each headset requires calibration:
- 3D Calibration Method: Uses two stereo cameras to calculate display and reflector positions
- 2D Calibration Method: Uses a single stereo camera (can reuse Intel T265)
- Calibration data stored in JSON configuration files
- Per-user eye-to-Leap Motion alignment required[10]
Community and Variants
Notable Builders
- Noah Zerkin: Founded CombineReality to manufacture components and kits[3]
- Graham Atlee: 19-year-old who built multiple headsets and created demos[11]
- Alex Chu: Co-founded CombineReality and developed the Deck X variant
Major Variants
| Variant | Key Features | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Deck X | Integrated USB hub, reduced cable count | 2019 |
| Northstar Next | Single USB-C cable, modular design | 2024 |
| Various Community Builds | Custom modifications for specific use cases | Ongoing |
Impact and Legacy
Project North Star demonstrated that high-quality AR experiences could be achieved with relatively affordable components. The project inspired numerous developers and researchers to experiment with AR interface design and helped advance the adoption of hand tracking as a primary input method for AR.
The open-source nature of the project created a community of builders who continue to improve and modify the design. Commercial companies like CombineReality emerged to support the community with hard-to-manufacture components[12].
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ben Lang (April 9, 2018). "Leap Motion Reveals Project North Star, an Open-source Wide FOV AR Headset Dev Kit". https://www.roadtovr.com/leap-motion-reveals-project-north-star-an-open-source-wide-fov-ar-headset-dev-kit/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kevin Carbotte (June 6, 2018). "Leap Motion Open Sources The Project North Star AR Headset's Schematics". https://www.tomshardware.com/news/project-north-star-open-source-documents,37222.html. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Noah Zerkin. "Building Project North Star". https://www.smart-prototyping.com/blog/Building-Project-North-Star. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Our Journey to the North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/blogs/our-journey-to-the-north-star. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Florian Maurer (June 28, 2018). "Project North Star: Mechanical Update 1". https://blog.leapmotion.com/project-north-star-mechanical-update-1/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Florian Maurer (January 23, 2019). "Project North Star: Mechanical Update 3". https://blog.leapmotion.com/project-north-star-mechanical-update-3/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "ProjectNorthStar Software". https://github.com/leapmotion/ProjectNorthStar/tree/master/Software. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Esky - Project North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/software/esky. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Getting Started with Software". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/project-north-star/software/getting-started-with-software. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "FAQ - Project North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/getting-started/faq. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "How a Self-Taught Teen Built His Own North Star Headset". February 27, 2019. https://blog.leapmotion.com/how-a-self-taught-teen-built-his-own-north-star-headset/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Project North Star Kit A". https://www.smart-prototyping.com/Project-North-Star-Kit. Retrieved June 26, 2025.